Cannabis Recycling Operation Reports Surge in Business

If you weren’t already aware, cannabis can be recycled and repurposed. Businesses like the Commerce City, Colorado-based dispensary, A1 Organics, pays its employees to recycle wood pallets, logs, and garden materials, as well as cannabis. The recycling operation accepts Illegal cannabis that is confiscated by the Denver Police Department in shipments in truckloads. The operation has recently seen a surge in business, due to growing local interest.

Normally the cannabis confiscated by police would be a complete waste, or might end up being burnt, disposed of or locked up in a police locker. Seized cannabis cannot be repurposed for the legal recreational market. Although the cannabis won’t help any patients receive relief, it doesn’t end up being a total loss.

Kevan Northup runs the recycling operation. “There’s quite a bit that comes in,” Northup told Fox 31. “Two or three years ago, we would do one grind every three or four months,” Northup said. “Now [police] pretty much get a hold of us every couple weeks and need us to grind for them.”

Recycling the cannabis happens in at least two steps. The cannabis material is ground up in Commerce City, where it is then sent to another facility in Keenesburg for composting. According to A1 Organics, business is picking up given the increase in communities that are paying more attention to cannabis  and where it is going.

Other companies, such as Restalk, are completely devoted to recycling cannabis byproduct. Restalk created a prototype paper repurposed out of cannabis or hemp that can help replace tree-based paper and plastics.

A1 Organics has been in business for over 40 years. The Denver Police Department began participating in the recycling program about three years ago. Interest in the recycling program is continuing to grow. The company said that police departments in Aurora, Commerce City, Thornton and Colorado Springs have all expressed interest in becoming part of the recycling program.